Went into the local shop today for a look and took a 8'8 speed for a demo. I was expecting it to be super tippy being 28.5 wide and me being 95kg.

It's super stable and didn't actually challenge me at all and that was with wind and strong current.

I couldn't really surf it it though as the swell was too weak and small. Everytime I tried to get back on the stomper it just bogged down in speed. Very hard to turn of the middle with the straight rails. Would love to see how it goes in some decent surf. I have it for a few days so Will put some decent fins in it but it's a shame the surfs so small.

But anyway, just chasing some reviews on the guys that ride an 8'5 maybe even compare it to the 8'8 if possible.

This is how you ride a Speeed.
One foot right on the back and one in the middle.
Thats why I struggled . If you get too far forward you can't turn and if you get too far back (with both legs) you do bog down

I'm 95kgs and have the 8'5 speeed..ive changed other boards over time but this ones a keeper..does everything you need it to..in most conditions..had it in small to dbl overhead waves...when its strong offshore I jump on the 8'7 acid..as the nose on the speeed can sometimes get hang up..I swapped fins on my speeed to c-drive for a bit more juice.
Chur hope that helps

Leaning on turns and wider surf stance (when not paddling) definitely helped me manage the board on the wave and had me falling off a lot less on take off

Casso showing how it's done .
Look at both feet positions

Nugdam would be really interested in your thoughts... im debating between...
9'1 acid
8'9 flash
8'10 creek
8'6 smik hipster.... currently have a 9'1 creek..

I have been riding an 8'8 Speeed for a couple of years now at 104 kg and it has been magic. Now that I'm down to 95kg I would definitely want to go down to the 8'5 if I could. I'll second everything said about getting the stance right in order to turn it well. You want to ride it as short as you can if you want to turn it. I'm 6'5 so the wide stance isn't so wide for me but I get how others would struggle to make it work.
Ultimately, the Speeed is the board you want if you are having a hard time making sections that are closing out. It gets down the line faster than almost anything on the water. If you are already making your sections and you just want to turn better on the face, there are other boards that will beat it, no question. But when I take my Speeed out at my local break I know I can take off deeper than anyone and ride longer than anyone. It dominates the line up to an unhealthy degree.